Welcome to our PFAS special focus publication, featuring cutting-edge solutions and expert insights into tackling the global forever chemicals challenge.
We stand at a critical juncture in our relationship with the modern world. The same industrial ingenuity that has brought us countless conveniences – non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, long-lasting cosmetics, and effective fire-fighting foams – has also left a lasting, and increasingly alarming, environmental legacy.
This legacy is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS. This publication is dedicated to unpacking the complex challenge of these ‘forever chemicals’ and showcasing the pioneering innovations that are leading the charge towards a safer, PFAS-free future.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a large group of thousands of synthetic chemicals characterised by one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry: the carbon-fluorine bond.
This incredibly stable structure is the source of both their utility and their persistence. It makes them resistant to heat, water, oil, and degradation, allowing them to perform brilliantly in a vast array of consumer and industrial applications.
However, this same resilience means that once released into the environment, they do not break down naturally. They accumulate in water, soil, and living organisms, creating a pervasive and enduring problem.
The invisible danger
The stability of PFAS is precisely what makes them a significant concern for human health and ecosystems.
Their persistence allows them to bioaccumulate in the food chain and biomagnify, meaning concentrations can increase as they move up to higher predators, including humans.
Scientific studies have linked exposure to certain PFAS to a range of adverse health outcomes, including increased cholesterol levels, reduced immune response, developmental effects in children, and an elevated risk of certain cancers.
Their ubiquity is staggering; PFAS have been detected in the blood of people and animals worldwide, from remote Arctic ice to the deepest ocean trenches.
A global call to action
Recognising the scale of this threat, countries and regulatory bodies across the globe are moving from awareness to decisive action.
From stringent new drinking water standards in the United States to sweeping restriction proposals in the European Union, governments are implementing policies to curb PFAS use and clean up existing contamination.
This regulatory shift is not merely about managing a pollutant; it is about safeguarding public health and protecting natural resources for generations to come.
The economic impetus is equally powerful, driving industries to seek alternatives and innovative solutions to mitigate liability and transition towards safer, more sustainable practices.
A glimpse inside this publication
Within these pages, you will hear from the experts and innovators on the front lines of this fight.
Learn how the European Environment Agency is deepening our understanding of less-studied PFAS substances, and how environmental charity Fidra is prioritising preventative action.
Discover groundbreaking technologies from companies like Puragen, which removes and destroys PFAS, and PFASuiki, which transforms costly waste disposal into on-site destruction.
Explore how projects like ZeroF and the Fraunhofer Institute are developing safe, sustainable alternatives to achieve PFAS-free surfaces and products.
Furthermore, we delve into the critical tools for detection, with features on AquAffirm and FREDsense Technologies, which are revolutionising PFAS monitoring by bringing lab-grade testing to the field.
This publication serves as a critical roadmap, translating groundbreaking research and innovation into actionable strategies. We urge you to delve into these pages, equip yourself with the latest knowledge, and become an active participant in the global mission to eliminate PFAS.
